Building construction



' Nov. 13, 1923. mmm@ R Z. HOPKINS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l @Nm/NN WITNESS: I I/VVE/,VTOR @gy/5m MNZEN d MWI/@WL TT ORNE Y y EM w 5.

Nov. 13, 1923. mmm@ R. Z. HOPKINS Y BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 29, 1920 4 sheets-Sheet z WITNESS:

@7M www m INVENTOR Nov. 13 i923.

V R. z. HOPKINS BUILDING qoNsTRUcTIoN Filed July 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 :NVE/WOR M BY Nov. 13 i923.

R. Z. HOPKINS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION /NVENTOR 2g RNNNNMIDNIM Filed July 29, 1920 BY duim/Qi /P\700jw,

y ATTORNEY Patented Nov. l3, i923.

RALPH Z. HOPKINS, OF DETRDT, MICHEGAN.

BULDING GNSTRCTIN.

Application filed July 29, 1920. Serial No. 339,661.

To all whom t 'may concer/rt.'

Be it known that l, RALrrr Z. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county ot' llayne and State ot Michigan, have invented a new and lmprored Building Construction, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction oi" floors, ceilings, roots, and other flat slab building' structures, and its object is to provide a system ot construction whereby a builder is enabled to erect at moderate cost and with the use ot very simple ta-lsework a substantially fireprootl building by the use of proper concrete elements and metal tension bars which have been previously manufactured in what may be termed stock sizes.

The construction of floor slabs by the use of metal tension members and terra-cotta or concrete blocks and' the construction oit beams or girders by the use oi3 metal tension members and terra-cotta or concrete blocks which are strung onto these tension members have both been suggested; but the construction oi' a beam or girder of two longitudinal rows of blocks, the blocks of each row breaking joints with those of the other, the blocks of the two rows being formed with grooves for the metal tension members, and the blocks ot the one row being locked to the blocks ot the other row so as to constitute a substantially continuous beam, has not been suggested and constitutes the major :i5 idea or' the present invention. The subordinate idea of the present invention is providing the beams or girders thus constructed with longitudinal shoulders and placing spacing members on these shoulders 40 so as to constitute liat slab structures suitable for floors and roots.

rlhe invention consists specifically in the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an upper portion of a wall, the abutting iioor and roof and the eaves and gutter of a building. Fig. 2 is a similar section through the ridge ot the root. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of aridge unit. Fig. t is a vertical section through a Hoor taken at right angles to that of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a side View of a finished beam, parts being broken away to show the construction. Figs. G to 9 inclusive are transverse sections of girders built up ot units secured together' by different connectors. Figs. l() to lil are views showing dierent types or connectors. Figs. l5 to 2l inclu- 60 sive are perspectives of different types ott .building units. Figs. 2&2 and 23 are transverse sections of girders built up of units secured together by different connectors. Fig.

is an enlarged detail ot the structure shown in Fig. 22. Fig. 25 is a vertical section of a portion of wall and abutting iioor.

Similar reference'characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

lWhen reinforced concrete girders are built up of units provided with longitudinal holes to receive the tension rods, great pains must be taken to slide the units onto and along the tension rods to avoid breakage of the units. Attempts have been madeJ to employT pairs ot' rows of units having grooves in their opposed faces to receive the tension rods, but the amount of transverse reintorcements ot the floor necessary to hold the two rows ot each beam together has been e0 large and the falsework was necessarily as complete as for ordinary floors built complete in situ.

In the present construction, the beams are constructed of previously manufactured stock units having grooves to rece-ive the tension rods, but in addition thereto, means are provided for locking the units of each row to the units oit the other row with the tension rods between them, so that, when erected` rein'lorccd concrete beams are produced without the necessity olf sliding these units along on the tension rods.

Referring to FigsV l to ll and lfl to 23 inclusive, the beams are shown to be built up oit' beam units l arranged end to end to constitute parallel rows, each unit having a groove 2 in its inner tace to receive the tension rod l0. These units of the several rows break joints as indicated in Fifi'. 5 so 100 that a unit of fractional lengths will occur each end of the beam. l prefer to recess the end units to receive a metal plate 3 against which the nut 4c on that end ot the rod 2 may bear. These rods may be round, 105 as indicated in Figs. Ll, 5, 8 and 9, or of any other cross section, Figs. 6 and 7 showing square tension members 5. Ur they may be dimlicated as shown in Fig. 22.

As stated above, these beam units are brought to the work and placed against the tension rods, the joints between two units on one side beingl between the ends of adjacent units on the other side of the tension rod. lVhen an entireJ unit has been positioned on one side oi the tension rod for one groove until vit extends about lhall Way into the I@groove 7 in the 'tace of the shorter unit. as these are dovetail grooves, the tie betiveen adjacent units is rigid.4 The remainder of the ygrooves may then be filled with concrete 8',` aiter which another uni with one-halt the length oit its groove 7 filled with concrete is placed against the end of the shorter unit, being slid onto the connector 6, after which another connector is slid along` in the groot/'e T oi this neiv unit until it extends into the end of thetejroove oit the last placed unit or the other'` row.

lt will be understood that th*y connectors 9 l2. l?) and indicated in Finis. i' tl. 9.

l2. lll, Q2 and inav be similari)v employed to tie the ends of each unit tothe middle portion of the adjacent unit on the opposite side ot the tension rod. The spaces in the `jrooves 7 not .filled `with these connectors may be .irilled'wi'th concrete. lllhile l ix'ne'ter connectors ot the type shown b v 6 in Fi (S, l do not -Wish to be limited tnereto or to an v one ot `the connectors shoivn in the several views, vfor any other devices niafv be einployed to unite the units ot one side of the bea-1n tothe other. A lt will usuallyv be `found advi ole to kev tension rod'i'n'position'in the units. and .For this purpose Vthe parts'lG to 22 inclusive niav beeniployed. These keys are severally introduced after a unit has been placed. beine.' 4slid along;` the groove 2 of the last placed unit until it extends into the groove olf the last placed unit yof the other row, the reinainine' space around the tension rodbeing theniilled vvith concrete. After the units; have thus been positioned on the` tension rod. tied together and keyed, the plates 3 and nuts flare secured to the ends of the rods, resulting in a lighn' strongV and compact beam. litter abeain has' been thus assernbled, and after the concrete in the grooves in the Vbeani units has set, the beam may be hoisted to the place Where it is to be used. l

ln Fig. el, l have shown a Wall consistingl of a core 26 of concrete cast in situ and for# ing units 27 and 2S which may be ot natural ori artificial stone.v I

A band of 'Wall units 29 are built into this Wall and are preferably ot the saine contour as the beain units l (see Fig. 2l). :lifter the beams are built up-and positioned, the ceilingh units 30 and the vfloor units Bl niajv be positioned as indicated in Fig. l until the entiredl'o'oi slab'is completed. YLuting; o1"

The keying nieinleis L i and Q2 ivliich position the rods lO are'shou-n to be in separate parts. The hey-members 2l) in'Fig. 23 nia-iv be oi metal, terra-cotta or concrete. -v

ln Fig'. Q5 is shoivn Va'ivall provided/With an air space and built up belov.' the iiooi or" the face bloi'l'ts 2li the interior blocks 3S.

the tio plates 39 and the Vconcuete el() and ell.

The 'face blocks QT have .vertical dovetail Y grooves d3 toy 'receive the tongues #llon the ties 39 and are thus held in position. The

tie plates and the interior blocks 3S yarc formed with notches so they may mutually position each other. As these units are built up into a Wall, the spaces between theni are filled .vith concrete el() and 11. thus giving tivo solid thicknesses and an air space between them.' The thickness O is in'ade heavy to support vthe floor which extends into'the vv'alll The units 29 are provided with similar vertical grooves 4G to receive the tongues Llll on the ends of tie plates 39. but `Fi Ll the a'ii1 space andthe interiorunits 23S are omitted.K The length oi" the tie pilates .vill vaifv ivith'tli'e thickness ot'the wall.

ln Fig'. 25. the Wallis reduced in thickness above the door and the ivall units are formed with' a ledge el-S up to "which the concrete tlooi'coi'erinp; U- is inoldedf Tl construction of theV WallV is otherwise' as belt Yivillbe understood that tore describe'd' the Wall units 27 will l'ie'cutV away wherever necessmr)v toperniit the floor beains to extend into the ivall and rest onthe concrete LlOas shown'in Fig. 25, and theseV units' 27 Iare preferably fitted to the beam units lin order to preif'ent the vsoft concrete Yfrom running' out whenthe spaces above the door arebeiuu' anni. Y

The sanie ideas are embodied in rootl shoivn in Figs.' l, Zand 3. "The ridge units have g'roolvesil'and '52, thel former 'for the connectors 53 andthese grooves 5l are preferably provided with sheet niet'al linings The sheet nietalties -21 and 2Q, slioivn'in Fig. 22, may be employed to 'po-V :sition the tension rods 55 and also toV hold the lower portions of the units together. The units, l, 3() and 3l are employed to build up the root slabs which are practically identical with the floor slab shown in Fig.

space tor the nuts 59 on one ot the pair ot' rods (il, this space being afterwards filled with concrete. The spaces between the built up beams. which now constitute ratters.y are iilled by the fiat units "50 and ln the structure shown in Fig. l, the licor unit l extend out into an eaves-trough member (ilv across the wall, and the inclined root beams and the top and bottom units Stwll end at the heavy iron footing members G13 which mayv have flanges 64E and 65 to engage the upper wall units 27. li" desired, transveife rods G6 may extend across between footing members G3 tor greater safety. Cap plates GT may be used to keep the concrete (38 trom between the intermediate wall plates 35% and the concrete ma)T be sloped up to the units 3l to lorin a proper gutter G9.

The moditications ot the various units and the combinations between them are merely tew examples or' the various forms in which my present invention may be embodied and many other modiiications and changes majv be designed by those skilled in the art without ncparting from the spirit ot my invention as set forth in the following` claims.

l claim l. A beam comprising two rows of units placed tace to tace, the joints between the units of each row alternating with those of the other row, units ot the two rows having registering grooves to constitute longitudinal passages', a tension member mounted in one passage, and connectors mounted in the other passage to hold the two rows ot units together.

Q. A. beam comprising two rows of units placed tace to face and. having upper and lower registering grooves continuous throughout the length ot the beam, a tension bar in the lower grooves, nuts on the ends Ot the rods to draw the units together, and connectors in the other grooves to unite the two rows.

A beam comprising two rows of units placed tace to tace and having upper and lower registering grooves continuous throughout the length of the beam, a tension bar in the lower grooves, nuts on the ends ot the rods to draw the units together, and connectors in the other grooves to unite the two rows, the joints between the units of each row alternating with those of the other row and the connectors extending across said joints.

4. A. beam comprising two rows ot units placed tace to face and each unit having two dovetail grooves registering with the grooves in the Opposite unit, the joints between the units in the rows alternating, and connectors in said grooves to secure the units ot one row to the units ot the other" row.

5. A beam comprising two rows of units placed tace to Jface and each unit having upper and lower grooves registering with the grooves in the opposite unit, the joint between the units in the rows alternating, short connectors in said upper grooves to secure the ends oi two adjacent units of one row to and intermediate the ends of a unit ot the other row, a tension member extending along in the lower grooves, and bearing plates and nuts on the ends oi said tension member.

6. A beam comprising two rows of units placed tace to tace and having upper and lower longitudinal grooves, a tension rod in one of the grooves extending longitudinally of the beam, and means in the other groove to unite the two rows ot units.

7. A beam comprising two rows ot units placed tace t0 tace and rigidly connected, the units ot one row breaking joints with that of the other row, said beam having a groove along and within the contacting taces of said units, and a tension bar in said groove extending the length ott the beam.

8. A beam comprising two rows ot units placed face to face and rigidly connected, said beam having a groove along and within the contacting Jfaces of said units, and a tension bar in said groove extending the length of the beam 9. A beam comprising two rows of' units placed face to face and leaving registering grooves adjacent the lower sides of the units, and a tension member extending longitudinally ot the beam in said registering grooves.

l0. A beam comprising two rows of units placed tace to face and having registering grooves, connectors in said grooves to unite the units or the two rows, and reinforcements for the units within the grooves.

1l. A beam comprising two rows of units placed tace to tace and having registering grooves, sheet metal facing in said grooves t@ reinforce the units, and connectors to unite the contacting blocks of the two rows.

RALPH Z. HOPKINS. 

